Clutch



No. 607,531. Patented July |9, |s'9s.

w. 1. THOMAS.

CLUTCH.

(Application filed May 23 1896.) (No Model.)

2 sheets -sheet I.

ATTORNEY.

THE nonms wzfzas co.. Paoimjlma, WASHINGTON, u. c

Nrrn STATES" :ATENT trier...

WVILLARD J. THOMAS, OF WVESTFIELD, NEW? YORK.

CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,531, dated July 19, 1898.

' Application filed May 23, 1896. Serial No. 592,761. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLARD J. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVestfield, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same;

This invention relates to friction-clutches; and it consists in'certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure 1 shows a section of the clutch on the line 1 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

As shown, the clutch is adapted to operate upon a loose pulley; but I do not wish to be limited to such an adaptation, as it can with equal advantage be used for lockin g contiguous shafts or in any manner usual with this class of clutches.

A marks the shaft; 13, the loose pulley; b, a collar for holding the pulley against end movement, and B the friction-band, in this instance cast with the pulley.

Operating upon the friction-band is the plate 0, usually of wood, and this plate is carried by the clutch-shoe O. A slide 0, preferably in the form of a round pin, is screwthreaded at its outer end and is screwed into the shoe 0. A jam-nut 0 looks it in position. The slide 0 operates in a guide D, which, as shown, is simply a projection eX tending from the clutch-carrierD. The guide D is slotted at (I, so as to expose the slide 0, and an exposed portion of the slide 0 is cut to a smaller diameter, thus forming a shoulder 0 The clutch-lever E is pivoted in the guide D ate. The inner end of this lever is forked, the prongs of which straddle the part c of the slide and act upon the shoulder 0 A sliding collar F, carried by the shaft A, is connected by the link G with the end of the lever E. A collar His carried by the collar F and is provided with the pins h, to which is secured the shift-lever. (Not shown.)

The operation of the clutch is as follows: The clutch is shown in action. To throw it out of contact, the sliding collar is shifted from the carrier. This movement draws the outer end of the clutch-lever down and the inner end up. If the forked end just fitted the portion 0 the outward movement of the slide and consequent release of the clutch are efiected by action of the lever. In order, however, to insure against any play or lost motion, I have provided the spring 0 which as the innerend of the lever E is raised draws the slide up closely against the lever-prongs e and raises the shoe, so as to carry the plate 0 out of contact. A reverse movement of the sliding collar sets the clutch. As is usual with these constructions, the link G as the clutch is set is carried a little past the center of its pivot on the lever E, by reason of which the clutch is locked in its set position.

Where the round slides are used, as shown, I provide the fingersd, which extend from the guides D and contact the shoe at each side. These serve to steady the shoes as they are pressed into contact and also prevent the slide turning in the guide.

By the use of slides for carrying the clutchshoes the shoes are moved in a radial line into contact. This construction, as distinguished from those in which the shoe is carried by a pivoted arm, insures an equal pressure on all parts of the shoe, however worn the plate may/be.

As the plate wears, the clutch may be re adjusted by loosening the jam-nut c and screwing the slide in the shoe to the proper position. A groove 0 is provided, in which may be operated a common screw-driver for that purpose.

It should be understood that, as used with a loose pulley,'the carrier D should be keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft.

What I claim as new is 1. In a clutch the combination of a frictionband; a shoe; a slide screwed into and carrying said shoe; a carrier-guide for said slide arranged to allow the turning of said slide to operate the screw in the shoe; and means of actuating said slide in a direction longitudinally of the slide to carry the shoe to and from the friction-band.

2. In a clutch, the combination of a frictionband; a shoe; a slide screwed into and carryin g said shoe, said slide being provided with an annular shoulder; a carrier-guide for said 1 slide arranged to'allow the turning of said slide to operate the screw in the shoe; and a lever arranged to operate upon said shoulder. 3. In a clutch, the combination of a frictionband B; the shoe and plate 0 G; the slide c screwed into the shoeand having the shouls! der the carrier-guide D D provided with the opening 01 exposing the slide 0 at the shoulder; the forked lever E pivoted in the guide, the forks straddling the slide and arranged to operate upon the shoulder 0 the link G; and sliding collar F.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLARD J. THOMAS. Witnesses:

L. E. TORRY, H. O. LORD. 

